Grain-binding harvester



(No ModeL) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L. MILLER.

- GRAIN BINDING HARVESTBR. No. 480,113. Patented Aug. 2, 1892.

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(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 2.

L. MILLER.

GRAIN BINDING HARVESTER.

No. 480,113. Patented Aug. 2, 1892.

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(NoModeL) 4 Sheets-Sheet s.

L. MILLER.-

GRAIN BINDING HARVESTIER.

No. 480,113. Patented Aug. 2, 1892.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

L. MILLER.

GRAIN BINDING HARVBSTER.

Patented Aug. 2, 1892. 7

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Q05} y a 'UMLMAw-% UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

LEWIS MILLER, OF AKRON, OHIO.

GRAIN-BINDING HARVESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 480,113, dated August2, 1892.

Original application filed April 30, 1886, Serial No. 200,754. Dividedand this application filed April 2, 1889- Serial No. 305,753- (Nomodel.) Patented in England December 22. 1888, No. 18,739.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS MILLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain-BindingHarvesters, (for which I have.

received Letters Patentin Great Britain, No. 18,739, dated December 22,1888,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention, while applicable to grainbinders generally, relates moreespecially to what is known as the low-down grainbinder. Its object isso to reorganize the present grain-binding harvester as to secure astrong, simple, compact, and effective lightweight machine, which ends Iattain by the novel organization of instrumentalities hereinafterdescribed.

The subject-matter claimed is hereinafter specifically designated in theclaims at the close of this specification.

The accompanying drawings represent so much of a low-down grain-bindingharvester embodying all my present improvements as is necessary toillustrate the subject-matter herein claimed.

Except as hereinafter indicated the views are all perspectives.

Figure 1 represents the machine as seen from the front and grain sideshowing its general organization; Fig. 2, a view from the front andgrain side showing the wind-board, binding-table, fender, float, andtying mechanism; Fig. 8, a view from the rear and grain side showing thebinding-table, float, pickers, packers, cut off, compressor, and cognateparts; Fig. 4, a detail view of the on t-off, binding-arm, andcompressor. Fig. 5 is a View from the rear and stubble side of themachine with a portion of the driving-wheel broken away, showing theframework, gearing, and binding mechanism.

The subject-matter of this application relates mainly to the wind-board,the float, the binder-table, and cut-off, and other parts of themechanism combined therewith. It is therefore deemed unnecessary todescribe in detail the other parts of the binder, they being fully setforth in other divisions of this specification, respectively seriallynumbered and filed as follows, viz: 200,754, filed April 30, 1886;301,945, filed March 27, 1889; 305,754, 305,755, and 305,756,respectively filed April 2, 1889.

The main or platform frame is shown as composed of parallel front andrear transverse frame bars or sills A A and longitudinal frame bars ortubes connected therewith at their points of intersection bycorner-pieces, such as A. Upright standards on these corner piecessupport a longitudinal binderframe bar or tube 0, connected throughsuitable brackets with transverse inclined front and rear bars or tubes0 O connected at their lower ends with the corresponding transversesills of the platform-frame, which latter frame, the uprights, and thebars C O, &c., constitute a strong rigid frame which I call a combinedmain and binder frame.

The longitudinal binder-frame bar above mentioned and the bar 0 extendbeyond their point of intersection, their projecting ends beingconnected by an angular brace, the outer end of which supports a driversseat and foot-board.

An inner divider L is secured to the front sill and to the lower end ofa guide-board or fenderL', extendinginward and upward along the forwardedge of the elevating-table and secured to and supported by an angleiron or strap Z secured to the bar 0' or to a fixed portion of theinclined elevating-table.

A longitudinal bar O, secured to the front and rear inclined transversebinder-frame tubes C 0 about midway between the platform-carrier andoutside longitudinal frametube O by suitable brackets or standards 0 orotherwise, supports the upper part of the fixed or lower portion C ofthe inclined elevating-table, (see Fig. 5,) the lower side thereof beingsupported upon transverse sills A A in any suitable manner in positionto receive the grain properly from the platform-carrier. Thelongitudinal supporting-bar O extends above or beyond the upper edge ofthe fixed part 0 of the table, or it maybe rabbeted,as shown in Fig. 1,to form a projecting ledge, on which the lower edge of the upper or1011- gitudinally-adjustable portion C of the inclined elevating-tablerests and slides. The

upper edge of this portion C" of the bindertable rests upon and issecured to suitable flanges on the brackets ff", or on the lower arm Fof the binder-gear standard in such manner as to be adjustablelongitudinally with said standard. It may be further supported at itsrear end by one or more pendent feet 0, adapted to rest and slide on thebar C, Fig. 5. By this construction and arrangement the upper portion ofthe inclined elevating-table, through slotsin which the nee dle andpackers move, is adapted to move with said parts as they are movedbackward and forward and is thereby held in proper working relationthereto. I thus secure ahorizontally and intermediately dividedsectional or twopart binder-table, the lower section being fixed closeto the platform apron or carrier, while the upper one is adjustable ormovable with its eo-operating mechanism.

The binder-gear standard or frame consists of an upright tubular portionor standard F, having tubular arms or sleeves F'F projecting rearwardlyand transversely therefrom, giving it the usual U form, with one of thetransverse arms constituting the base. U- shaped pendent brackets orclasps on the lower arm F clamp and slide upon the longitudinalbinder-frame tube 0 to render the bindergear standard adjustablebackward and forward thereon. This bar 0, it will be observed, projectsin advance of its Supporting-socket a in the standard A, and the frontbraeketof the binder-gearstan dard slides upon this extended portion.The lower sleeve F of the binder-gear standard or frame is provided withsuitable bearings for the needleshaft and the upper sleeve with bearingsfor the knotteractuating shaft, or vice versa, one being above and theother below the bindertable and the path of the grain.

The upper end of the uprightpart of a pendent bent arm or angular bar Fis secured to the binder-gear standard or the front bracket thereof. Thefront part of the lower horizontally-bent portion f of said arm F slidesin a groove in the front corner-piece, while its rear end carries apendent loop or bracket embracing and sliding 011 the inner longitudinalframe-tube. This bent arm thus serves to uphold and brace thebinder-gear standard and connected parts, either while working or whilepartaking of their adjustments, and also carries the pivots of thepacker-links.

The packer-shaft G, which also constitutes the first or maindriving-shaft of the binder mechanism, is shown in Fig. 1 as supportedat its forward end in a bearing in the upright part of the bent arm FCollars on this shaft in front and rear of this arm, while leaving theshaft free to turn, cause it to move back ward and forward with the armas the bindergear standard is adjusted.

Packers of a well-known oscillating kind work up through slots in theupper part of the elevating-table.

Pickers m in like manner work up through slots in the lower portion ofthe binding-table. The binding and compressing mechanisms are similar tothose shown in the other divisions of this application hereiubeforereferred to.

The fender or guide-board L has secured to it near its lower or outerend and upper edge a bracket having a suitable bearing "n for alongitudinal rock-shaft N, Figs. 2 and 3, provided with a series ofcurved elastic fingers n, which constitute a float and overlie theinclined table and serve to hold the grain down thereon with a yieldingpressure. The forward end of this shaft N has a crank-arm N fast uponit, having a series of perforations at different distances from theshaft, through any one of which it may have conneeted with it a rodconnecting it with the crank-arm N on the forward end of theneedie-shaft.

The eonnectingrod is shown in Fig. 1 as divided into two parts n it",the adjacent ends of which are pivoted to a crank-arm N formed on theforward end of a rock-shaft 0, Fig. 1, carrying cut-off fingers o 0',which the crank N is vibrated to raise the needle are thrown upwardthrough a slot or opening in the table from the inclined position shownin Fig. to the upright position shown in Fig. 4, in which they serve toguard the needle and protect it from the grain in a manner that will bereadily understood. The same movement of the needle crank-arm whichraises the cut-elf 0 also serves through the pitman a to rock theyielding float fingers n upward, and thereby to provide more spaceunderneath them for the accumulation of the grain, while its upward flowor movement is stopped by the cut-off. \Vhen the arm N is vibrated todepress the needle, the cut-off 0' will be depressed out of the path ofthe grain, and simultaneously therewith the float-fingers n will belowered and caused to depress upon and thereby to insure the proper andsteady upward movement of the grain. By adjusting the rod 77. in or outupon the arm N the throw of the float-fingers n can be regulated atwill, and the throw of the.

cut-off fingers 0' may be similarly regulated by the adjusting-rod nupon the crank-arm N provision for such adjustment being made asindicated. If preferred, however, the cutoff fingers 0 may be connectedby a link or rodn with a pendent ear n on the lower side of the needlenear its shaft, as shown in Fig.

4, so as to be operated from the needle itself.

In this case the rod 07. can extend to and connect directly with the armN and need not be divided.

The shaft 0 may be supported in any suitable mann'er from thebinder-gear standard or movable part C of the binder-table, so as to beadjustable therewith. The fender or grain-guide L also has arearwardly-project ing longitudinal bracket P, Fig. 2, rigidly securedto it near its upper end, said bar overhanging the inelinedelevating-table and the grain moving upward thereon, and to this arm orbar P the inner ends of two parallel bars or links 19 19 are pivoted.Said bars 19 19 extend outward toward the platform-carrier and havetheir outer ends pivoted to a longitudinal bar P. At a point at or nearmidway the bars P and P is a longitudinal supporting-arm P upon whichthe links 19 19 rest, which bar P is connected at its rear end to andupheld from the outer end of the breast-plate binder-head orknotter-shield Q or its support Q, as shown in Fig. 2. The longitudinalbar P nearest the platform projects in rear of its supporting link orbar p and has a sleeve R, square or polygonal in form, corresponding tothe form of the bar P in cross-section, mounted on and adapted to beadjusted longitudinally upon its projecting end, and to be held at anydesired adjustment by a'set-screw or other suitable device. This sleeveis provided on its outer side with a socket R, in which is secured a rodor bar R which projects horizontally and transversely over the rear sideof the platformcarrier, Fig. 7. The rod or bar R is perforated toreceive or has otherwise secured to it the upper ends of the arms of apendent U-shaped loop of wire or light rod '1', which, in connectionwith the rod R serves as a frame on which is stretched a canvas S,forming a light but effective wind-guard, protecting the grain andpreventing its being blown off from the platform-carrier. The sleeve Rpermits the adjustment back and forth of this guard for giving it theproper relation to the grain on the platform, and by having one of thelinks p p pivoted at p to the supporting-arm P, which moves with thebinder-gear standard and mechanism, it will be seen that when the latterare adjusted to proper position to apply the band at or near the centerof the length of the straw the windguard will be moved through theaction of its parallel links in the same direction, but double thedistance that the binder-gear standard and mechanism are moved, for thepurpose explained, thereby moving the windguard to accommodate the fulllength of the straw to be operated upon. The wind-board supportoverhangs or overlies the float, and the grain of course passes up underit on its Way to the binder. The wind-board is readily adjustable onthis support, which, it will be observed, is entirely above as well assome distance laterally from it, entirely out of the way of entanglementwith the grain, either on the platform or binder-table.

The wind-board, it will be seen, is directly connected with itssupporting-bars or pivoted links and is adjustable bodily to and fro atthis point of connection-that is to say, when the binder-head orbreast-plate is adjusted backward and forward to suit varying lengths ofthe grain the wind-board, besides the movement due to simply rockinghorizontally on its pivots, is moved bodily to and fro.

The usual cam gear-wheel T is shown on the knotter-actuating shaft,nearits rear end, as provided with an arm t, which assists 1n thedischarge of the bundles. A second arm t is scoured to the rear end ofthe knotteractuating shaft, arranged in the same place with the arm 2,and rotating with the shaft. It is made longer than the arm t and 1sarranged in close proximity to the path 1n which the needle and cut-offwork and the end is adapted to enter the space between said cut-off andneedle, and, while the cut-off is still holding back the incoming grain,removes the bundle in connection with the arm t, and thus completes theseparation between the bundle and the loose grain. The compressor I ismounted on a rock-shaft constituting a part of the trip mechanism andcooperates with the discharge-arms by getting out of the way at theproper moment to allow the grain to pass over them.

The operating of the mechanism w ll readily be comprehended from theforegoing description.

I am aware that a Wind-board heretofore has been pivoted so as to rockhorizontally and radially on a supporting-bracket fixed on alongitudinal supporting-bar constituting a part of the main frame andoverhanging the grain-passage at the inner end of the platform, thewind-board-supporting arm being connected with a rigid arm constitutinga part of the binder-frame and capable of'sliding longitudinally on thebar supporting the wind-board bracket by a link pivoted at one end tothis rigid arm and at an intermediate point to the\vind-board-supporting arm. In

this case, however the bracket fixed on the longitudinal frame-barconstituted the sole support of the windboard, which derlved no supportfrom the breast-plate. While, therefore, I do not broadly claim awind-board adj ustable with the binder-gear standard or breast-plate, Iam, so far as I am aware, the first to mount the wind-board uponsupports connected directly with the breast-plate, so as to beadjustable bodily to and fro therewith, whereby I am enabled to dispensewlth the bracket and supporting-barhereinbefore mentioned, not onlysimplifying the mechanism and leaving the rear end of the gram-passageunobstructed, but also to provide room for other mechanism such, forinstance, as the float herein shown, which otherwise could not beemployed. I am also enabled by my organization to arrange the wind-boardsupports in front of the breast-plate, and thus secure a compact,convenient, and light connection of the parts.

Having thus fully described the construction, organization, andoperation of my 1mproved low-down grain-binding harvester, what I claimherein as new and of my invention, is-

1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a fenderor guide-board, a bar secured thereto, parallel links pivoted thereonand extending toward the grain-plat- IIO ' form, a cross-bar pivoted onthe opposite ends of these links, a Wind-board supported on this bar, anadjustable breast-plate, binder-head, or knotter-shicld, and anintermediate bar supported on the binder-head and pivoted to one of thelinks, whereby the adjustment of the binder-head imparts a greater rangeof adjustment to the wind-board.

2. The combination, substantially as here inbefore set forth, of aplatform-carrier, an inclined slotted elevating binder-table, pickers orgatherers working therethrough, a breast-plate, a wind-board, andflexible supporting connections interposed between the breast-plate andwind-board and overhanging the pickers and elevator.

3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of thefender or guideboard, the rearwardly-projecting rock-shaft mountedtherein, and the elastic floating fingers carried thereby, under whichthe grain passes on its way to the binder.

:L- The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of anintermediately horizontallydivided sectional elevating bindertable, arock-shaft overhanging the fixed section, and elastic floating fingerscarried there by, overlying both sections of the table.

5. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of thefender, the rockshaft of the float, turning in bearings therein, thecrank-arm actuating the binder-shaft, and the connecting-rod unitingthem.

6. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of thebinder-arm crank, the rockshaft of the float, the divided connecting-roduniting them, the intermediate crank-arm therein, and the rock-shaftcarrying the cut-off fingers actuated by said crankarm.

7. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of thebinder-frame, the slotted lower fixed portion or section of thehorizontally interinediately divided bindertable, its upper movableportion, the rockshaft journaled therein, and the cutoff fingers carriedby said shaft, over which fingers the grain passes.

8. The combination, substantially as here inbefore set forth, of abinder-frame, a bindergear standard adjustable therein, a slottedhorizontally-divided sectional binder-table, the upper portion of whichis adjustable with the binder-gear standard, a rock-shaft journaled insaid upper portion, cut-off fingers on said shaft, a vibrating binderarm or needle, and a link directly connecting the binder-arm and cut-offto Vibrate them in unison.

9. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of acarrier-platform, a slotted divided bindentable, pickers gathering andelevating the grain, elastic floating fingers pressing upon the grain inits upward passage, cut-off fingers temporarily arresting the flow ofthe grain, packers consolidating the grain while thus arrested, and abinderarm encircling the bundle with band material at the proper moment.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

LEWIS MILLER. \Vitnesses:

O. L. SADLER, W. K. MEANs.

